Manawatu Hospitality Awards 2009

I have been a bit slow in writing this post with the results of the local Manawatu Hospitaity Awards for 2009.
The awards took place last sunday – the 11th October 2009. It was a great night Emcee’d by Comedian Dai Henwood, very professional MC – and kept everyone entertained! (altho – i now see why he gets all the short jokes on the tv show “7 days” – i am 6′7″ and i felt like i was towering over him! – sorry Dai!) Anyway needless to say i was very impressed by Dai!

Anyway the awards…

The Finalists and Winners were as follows:(Winners of each Category is bold)

Toops Restaurant of the Year: The establishment offers a fine menu, service and welcoming ambience. It has ease of access and professional, well-tuned waiting staff.

Aberdeen Steakhouse & Bar
Bethany’s Restaurant & Café
Bella’s Café
Nero Café & Bar
The Gallery Restaurant
Zoe’s at the Kingsgate
Lone Star Café & Bar
La Patio at Hotel Coachman

Toops Ethnic Restaurant of the Year: The establishment offers a fine menu, service and welcoming ambience
and reflects authentic national cuisine. It has ease of access and professional, well-tuned waiting staff.

Monsoon Asian
Yatai Japanese Isakaya Restaurant
Hana Mizu Ki Japanese Restaurant
Bangkok Thai Restaurant
Mr India
Chada Thai
Thai Orchid Restaurant
China Inn Restaurant & Bar

Davis Trading Café of the Year: The café offers vibrancy, with personable staff. It’s in tune with current café trends and expectations. The coffee is superb with great food and slick service.

Café Cuba
Barista The Espresso Bar
The Elm Café
The Herb Farm Café
Café Express
The Stage Door Café
Moxies Café
Aqaba

M&P Young Caterer of the Year: An individual or company which provides quality food and beverage menus served by professional staff with consummate decorum. They heed all requirements of the event and anticipate every contingency.

Not Now James Catering
Hester Guy Catering
The Verdict Café
Wharerata Function Centre
Café Express
Kingsgate Hotel
Focal Point Cinema Coffee & Wine Bar
Creative Catering

Davis Trading Takeaway of the Year: The takeaway provides quality fast food along with exceptional customer service. Offers value and variety.

Annie’s Takeaways
Stads Takeaways
Spice Kitchen
Burger Fuel
Fishtown Takeaways
Pompeii Pizza
Fish King (Feilding)
Star of India Authentic Takeaway

The Breweries Pub/Tavern of the Year: Friendly, comfortable surrounds. Good food and beverage and service
with a smile.

The Celtic Inn
The Grand Beer Café
The Speights Ale House
The Brewers Apprentice
Rose & Crown Olde English Pub
Rosie O’Grady’s
The Drovers Return Bar & Café
The Office

Pernod Ricard Bar/nightclub of the Year: Great atmosphere and music with a broad selection of drinks. Trendy, fashionable night spot. The place to be seen.

High Flyers Bar & Café
The Fish Cocktail & Wine Bar
Uno Basement Bar
The Brewers Apprentice
Mao Bar
Malbas Bar & Nightclub
Cobb & Co

Manawatu Standard Supplier of the Year: Consistent and prompt product delivery. Committed to top quality
and innovative products. Demonstrates customer loyalty.

Village Wine Trader
Davis Trading
M&P Young
Toops
Bidvest Food Service
Riverlea Hydroponics
Breadworks
Chefs Choice

Tootill Electrical Accommodation Provider of the Year: This establishment offers the full package. The place you would recommend to visitors to stay in the Manawatu.

Bentley’s Motor Inn
Travelodge
Quest
Hacienda Motor Lodge
Kingsgate Hotel
Arena Lodge
Hotel Coachman
Fitzherbert Regency

NZ Restaurant Association Hospitality Personality of the Year: An award for an individual, who over an extended period of time, has shown outstanding commitment to the betterment of Manawatu’s hospitality industry. The winner will be a well known personality through their continued involvement in the marketplace and will be respected industry-wide for business achievements.

Chetan Pangam (Kingsgate Hotel)
Reuben Leung-Wai (Bethany’s Restaurant)
Fay McSweeney (Davis Trading)
Sean Kereama (Wharerata Function Centre)
Sharon Mann (UCOL)
Anne Maree Jeffries (Spostato Restaurant)
Caro Reynolds (Aqaba)
Michelle Callum (The Grand Beer Café)

Bidvest Chef of the Year: An inspiration in all aspects of cooking. Creates great food and runs a superb,
consistent kitchen.

Trevor Salang (The Gallery)
Scott Kennedy (Nero Café & Bar)
Mark Harman (La Patio)
Chetan Pangam (Zoe’s at the Kingsgate)
Anna Morris (The Elm Café)
Reuben Leung-Wai (Bethany’s & Rendezvous)

Kingsgate Barista of the Year: Professional and passionate about coffee making. Evaluates coffee making to a true art form.

Abi Purshan (Barista)
Juanita Trow (Café Soskeys)
Eamon Gilbert (The Stage Door Café)
Richie Higham (The Stage Door Café)
Chris Monk (Café Cuba)
Andrew Feldon (Streetwise Coffee)

Bidvest Ethnic Chef of the Year: A quality culinary ambassador for their national cuisine.

Amit Kumar (Spice Kitchen)
Atsushi Taniyama (Yatai)
Hamit Gultekin (Halikarnas)
Yashwant Singh (Mirrch Masala)
Virender (Mr India)
King Lun Kan (Ken’s Kitchen)

UCOL Commis Chef of the Year: A person showing the potential to become an outstanding chef. Shows great work ethic, attitude and is passionate about cooking.

Jelena Mills (Nero Café & Bar)
Maria Calderon (Kingsgate Hotel)
Ryan Marshall (Aberdeen Steakhouse & Bar)
Jessie Bird (The Elm Café)
Alisa Carmichael (Café Cuba)
Michael Brill (Rendezvous Restaurant & Bar)

Crombie Lockwood Maitre d’ of the Year: Demonstrates pace with grace and a totally unflappable nature.
This genuine ‘personality’ simply and consistently delivers the very best.

Fiona Helson (Mao Bar)
Lenny Ross (Barista The Espresso Bar)
Yvette Kennedy (Neros)
Anne-Maree Jefferies (Spostato)
Alastair Pearson (Bella’s Café)
Barbara Taniyama (Yatai)

HSI Food Service Person of the Year: Has full knowledge of food and beverage products. Uses initiative, is
perceptive, tactful and has a great personality. Good sales ability and sound skills. Always well groomed and a team player.

Regan Steer (Mao Bar)
Kate Mandry-Gilliford (Aberdeen Restaurant)
Hayden Temperly (Bella’s Café)
Victoria Hartley (Nero Café & Bar)
Linton Wallace (Kingsgate)
Ashleigh Henderson (Bethany’s Restaurant)

The Breweries Bartender of the Year: Superb product knowledge, amiable and discrete, with a unique personal style. Must possess excellent memory skills and sense of humour.

Richie Higham (The Fish Cocktail & Wine Bar)
Susan Warner (Wally’s Bar)
Maxine McKeage (The Grand Beer Café)
Kim Ross (Kingsgate Hotel)
Jacqui Haitana (The Celtic Inn)
Joe Seah (Mao Bar)

Also, i’d personally like to just say thanks to the many people whom have supported me in being able to retain the Manawatu Barista of the year! the local support has been incredible! Thank you to all our regular customers! You really do help me enjoy serving you, and striving to make you the best possible coffee i can!

Thanks!

Coffeeman